START UP error (probably fix for you guys)

[MisterSchmidt]

What annoys me in this forums is that there are a few people whining about a startup error (blackscreen etc) without reading any other discussion in this forum.

I KNOW Rebellion won't give you a refund because they just bought the game to keep it alive. You all should be happy that they are even trying to keep a great game like this alive.

But this is not the reason why I've created this thread. I've created this thread for those whiners who can't search a forum for answers or just won't respond.



Anyway for some background information: I'm on Windows 7, 8 and 8.1. The problem first existed on the Windows 7 machine. Probably due the lack of "video" codecs. SO here's what i've done, and it worked for me.

- Keep in mind I'm happy to help so let me know if it's working or not.

• Step 1 - Make sure you have the latest drivers for your PC.
  IMPORTANT NOTE - You may be prompted to restart and please do follow this request because it's important for your driver to startup. Tho I recommend to wait with this startup until the end of this tutorial because almost every step needs a restart.
  
  
• Step 2 - Make sure you have the latest Bink video format. The game uses this "outdated" video codec for playing his cinematics and most recent operating systems like Windows 7, 8, and probably 10 doesn't use this codec anymore. Anyway download and install the Rad Tools from here[www.radgametools.com].
  
  
• Step 3 - You may now restart your PC.
  
  
• Step 4 - If you got an secondary screen it's recommended to turn this one off and set your personal setting to Windows basic instead of Aero themed.
  
  
• Step 5 - Start up the game and PLEASE let me know if it's working or not.

[Nara Knight]

no it dosnt work and people ♥♥♥♥♥ about the game not working becasue the devs say when you message then they going to fix it and they dont and the devs arnt keeping the game alive becasue they didnt even optmize the game for newer systems the devs have abonded this game and are leaving it in a state where new systems cant get it or even play it unlike other old game like unreal ot joan of arc all old games but all able to be played by newer systems

[MisterSchmidt]

I understand you, I really do.

My problem with comments like this is that you're ruining the game for people who DID get the game to work. I aim for your respondings to almost every discussion, and start complaining about the dev's or the game. Please stop doing that.

And what did you try from the checklist up here.. What OS do you have?

[Nara Knight]

windos 10 and first off i wouldnt need to complain if they would get a fix for it instead of just not doing a dame thing and the game is great the first one was amazeing and i so recomand this gmae to my firned but not to get it off steam and the dev left this game in a starte wher its a 50/50 % that it will work or not they did nothing to make it work for eveyone so yes im going to complain aboutthe dev to eveyone becasue they not going to do a dame thing to fix it even after i sent them 100 of emails on how to fix this and there responce is look for 3rd party support they have levt the game and im aming to just get my money back now for a broken game that the dev are not going to try to fix

[MisterSchmidt]

Try the K-lite Codec pack from this[www.codecguide.com] website, I recommend installing the MEGA v11.0.0 or higher package. Its free, but during the installation beware for installing commercial stuff (Because its free.) ALSO remind to restart!

-They removed the commercials after checking

[Fry]

Hey Man,
Thanks for the assist, unfortunately neither worked for me
However, after I installed Rad Tools the error shifted - now whenever I try open the game i get a "BOOOOM" error,
Any help would be very greatly appreciated
I really hope we can find a away to get it to work - this is one of my favourite ye olde stratergy games!

[Nara Knight]

just letting you know the dev will not fix this game and i dont think there willbe a fix due to the game being old and the devs not optmizing it for newer pc so you should try to get your money back (most 3rd part fixes either are vrisus or will nor find gc2 on your pc)

[MisterSchmidt]

Fry님이 먼저 게시:

Hey Man,
Thanks for the assist, unfortunately neither worked for me
However, after I installed Rad Tools the error shifted - now whenever I try open the game i get a "BOOOOM" error,
Any help would be very greatly appreciated
I really hope we can find a away to get it to work - this is one of my favourite ye olde stratergy games!

Hey, Well atleast you get an error right now, better than just plain nothingness.

BOOOM on the other way is the default error of the game when crash occurs, Massive Entertainment (original game developers) even know how to entertain a person when there game is crashing. Anyway,

First off, navigate to steam and click the game. Hit properties and click the verify game cache. Steam will now search into the games directory to repair and re-download broken files.
what you should try next is the following: Go to the game's directory (but now by yourself) and look for the GCII.exe. Should be in the main directory of the game. "Right click" this GCII.exe and select (Windows) properties. Set the game's compatibility to Windows XP. make sure you also check the Run as administrator checkbox and click apply.
Now run the game via this gcii.exe instead of through Steam. and see if it works.

Also please let me know. ;)

Varrybig님이 먼저 게시:

just letting you know the dev will not fix this game and i dont think there willbe a fix due to the game being old and the devs not optmizing it for newer pc so you should try to get your money back (most 3rd part fixes either are vrisus or will nor find gc2 on your pc)

Is it really necessary to complain in every discussion? I'm trying to help here and all you've done is complaining. literally every discussion, tutorial, and even screenshots is complaining, complaining and complaining. you're ruining it for everyone PLEASE STOP IT.

[MisterSchmidt]

Varrybig님이 먼저 게시:

(most 3rd part fixes either are vrisus or will nor find gc2 on your pc)

Whatever you think, If you don't trust it. Don't download it. All I wanted to tell you guys is that i'm using this pack for over 5 years now and never found any virussus or any kind of spyware (I work with computers for the living).

But for those who got scared by this message (which I cannot believe due the fact this guy is just very angry all the time) I did some research and a scan of the mega pack for you guys:

Virus total scan[www.virustotal.com]

Here's another suggestion: When you've downloaded the file (K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1140_Mega.exe) it should be around 40590 KB. and if you know how to checksum, use it because the MD5 and SHA256 checksums are on the website.

[Fry]

Hey Schmidt,
Yer I just tried what you recommended and we have progress (to another problem at least).
Now it says "CD Key not found"
Thanks for the help dude!
Its people like you who make retro gaming possible!

[Nara Knight]

i hope you fix a fix becasue the devs wont do a fix anyways i just did eveything idk what xp to pick 2 or 3 becasue all im getting is nothing it starts then crashe no black screen no nothing i use to get the Boom message it came up when i had the acceus ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

[MisterSchmidt]

Ok, there should be a "Launcher" folder in the main folder. You could try to run the GC2Launcher.exe inside that "Launcher" folder (STEAM should be logged in and running in the background.)

Otherwise run through Steam. Please let me know.

[Nara Knight]

yeah i just got a crash again and when i run it through steam i just crash no message this time

[Fry]

Ok some serious progress,i tried what you suggested Schimdt and although the launcher didnt work, when i tried it on "gcii.exe" it worked! I actually played the game (and was pleasentaly suprised that it catered to 1920x1080 resolution)
However, now it wont open again (tried 3 or 4 times since that first successful opening, but without luck so far)
But I'll keep trying and I'll let you guys know if i find something that works consistently!
Thanks for all your held Schimdt!

[MisterSchmidt]

Hmm.. If your on Windows Vista or higher (7, 8, 8.1, and 10) I recommend to set your PC's personalisation to a non-Aero setting.

In my Windows 7 its default on a Aero theme with transparant taskbar. But the game is (sometimes) not working on these settings.

In Windows vista/7/8.1 you have to right click your desktop background and press personalisation. Now select one of the "Basic themes" instead of the default AERO themes and try to launch the game again.

We'll be getting there!

[Nara Knight]

i got nothing just crashes